Archive for the ‘my time capsules’ Category

Last week we answered the burning desire to visit the mountains and try our hand at skiing… the Alps would’ve been nice, but the budget didn’t allow, so we adventured off to Scotland instead.

A quick flight to Edinburgh… a stunning scenic car ride along fields & tree lined roads and we were on the slopes for the afternoon. SO quick and easy.

The boys were in their element and took off down the slopes with ease. I surprised myself, (having failed miserably at skiing on a school trip) I managed to tackle the ski runs with them… even if I was going at half the speed (taking in the sights of course!) and they all laugh at my snow plough action!

Here are just a few moments we captured on a Go Pro 4 and the Nokia Lumia 1020.

To be honest I was too busy skiing to capture everything I would’ve liked, plus the weather was very misty on the last day! and it’s not that easy to film while skiing (surprise!).

There was enough footage to make a One Minute Memory… and that’s all you need sometimes to transport yourself back in time.

A One Minute Memory film is simple to make and I encourage participants to create them during my online course Creating Time Capsules where I share how you can capture your moments, edit them together to keep them forever.

The next round of Creating Time Capsules starts soon on March 6th – I know not everyone has the means to take part, so I’m launching a giveaway for TWO places – one place by leaving a comment here on the blog & one place by leaving a comment on my Instagram feed on the mini version of this film.

Let me know what you would like to capture in a Time Capsule film in the comments.

If I could, all our Time Capsule films would be of fun filled adventures to colourful places, golden hours leaping through sun drenched fields of corn or grabbing some wheels to explore the streets of some familiar London favourite… & even new destinations.

But I have to remind myself that magic is happening everyday in my life. The little things are just as beautiful and just as important to capture.

As part of my A Year of Creating Time Capsules course, I’ve challenged myself along with the lovely people taking part, to create films each month. This should be a simple task as the past coupleof years have shown. But now that it’s a goal, it changes the pressure I feel. So I struggled this month. Battled with what to create, wishing for those magic elements I mentioned above, but alas February is the toughest month (that’s why the color//colour lovers project is so important to me) – no cool adventures, just everyday stuff.

So I made a simple film of our weekend. I finally figured it was alright for my film this month to be just OK… Just embrace our life. And the pressure was lifted.

Sun drenched days & adventures will return hopefully, but till then I’ll happily gather our moments and be grateful for this process of making Time Capsules.

Another round of Creating Time Capsules starts next month – this will be the last time I run it till the summer. So if you’d like to create your own films and step into the magic of telling your everyday stories – here are all the details!

Christmas & New Year flew by in a flash of gatherings & celebrations, blustery walks & lazing on the sofa, tensions & elations, card games & dancing, ice & sunshine…

My camera was with me to document some of these festive moments (although most of this film doesn’t look very festive!) – I had really wanted to rest after a busy year, but I like capturing what we’re doing, it’s part of how I see the world, so I can’t just turn off. The biggest struggle is my dislike of indoor lighting, so most of my film is our outdoors activities and the bits with the crummy lighting are special things I want to remember – in 5 years, I won’t care about that.

Want to make your own films like this? There’s still time to sign up for A Year of Creating Time Capsules… a whole year making films of your life – your fleeting moments, your memories all packaged up into a film. The course is packed with inspiration, tips & tricks from shooting to editing your film and an amazing community all motivating each other… Registration will close at the end of January – more details HERE.

Last year I shared all my 2013 films - turns out it was pretty much one film a month.

Inspired by this, the momentum carried on into 2014… some months were easier than others. Now I have a better idea which are the quiet months – the winter ones when there’s not as much light… and which months are bursting with possibilities – the sunny ones, when we’re out and about enjoying adventures… I will keep all of this in mind in 2015 while taking part in a A Year of Creating Time Capsules – I hope to encourage participants to create a film a month as well.

This year has been wonderful in so many ways… I’m sure there’ll be more details in future posts, but for now…

Let’s take a trip back through the year – so grateful for all of these…

JANUARY -

AN EVERYDAY MORNING

MEMORIES FROM MY CAMERA PHONE – ALL THE UPLOADS FROM MY IPHONE DURING THE COLOR//COLOUR LOVERS PROJECT

FEBRUARY -

LUMIA IN FOCUS TOUR – I SPENT THE WEEKEND WITH SOME INSTAGRAMMERS IN GERMANY

As the day unfolds, I capture the moments witnessed and push myself to see the scenes differently from previous Time Capsule films. Trying alternative camera angles & interesting compositions to mix it up… but also looking for themes and repeating moments to thread throughout the film. The sunshine and shadows were a gift of the day, so I filled the frame with plenty of light… Also, being mindful to see the stories, routines and details, that make this month in our life unique, to lock up in a Time Capsule.

I edited the film on Saturday night, as the boys watched some random action film – Head phones on, laptop & blanket, with Bruce Willis saving some plane in the background. As I sorted through the footage, I wanted each moment to linger…Something about the way I was feeling… wanting to indulge in the sunshine, the movement, the little details of my family… also, it’s probably something to do with my current love of slow motion… so this film is nice & slow…

You can make a simple Day In The Life film during my online course – I share how you can capture your moments, edit them together to keep them forever.

My online course has been extended for 2015 – A Year Of Creating Time Capsules – so we can make more films by creating them regularly… inspiring each other along the way. There’s an amazing community forming, it starts next week and there’s still time to join in throughout December…

I know not everyone has the means to take part, so I’m launching a giveaway for TWO places – one place by leaving a comment here on the blog & one place by leaving a comment on my Instagram feed (this photo)…

Let me know what you would like to capture in a Time Capsule film next year.

I will announce the random winners on Thursday 11th Dec – All the best!

Coming out the summer and having shot loads of pretty places and events, I’d kinda forgotten about just capturing the everyday stuff… other than a little bit on that Sunday afternoon recently.

These everyday photos and memories are what I will love in years to come.

So on our ride yesterday morning, I grabbed some footage on my iPhone to make a One Minute Memory film – it’s not the best quality or brilliantly shot or even, one of my best films, but it packed with memories of our ride to school…. and I love the way he rides his scooter, the backpack and those long legs!

This was all shot on my iPhone and then edited in iMovie on the phone – simple & quick – all the palm of my hand.

We had such a good time as a family there. The music, the activities, the location and the food. We saw some of our favourite artists perform, while lazing in the sunshine.

I’m so happy it’s been announced that Somersault will happen next year… Is it too early to start counting the days?!

Making this kinda of film is a gift for me and my family. It’s a virtual Time Capsule – brimming with memories that are great to watch, even though only a few months have passed – imagine how good it will be next year, or in two years or beyond.

You can make your own films like this… I share all you need to know to get creating in my online course Creating Time Capsules.

The final round in 2014 starts next week and I know not everyone has the means to take part, so I’d like to offer TWO spaces in a little giveaway…

Just leave a comment here and tell me what memories you would like to film and I’ll pick a couple of random winners on Wednesday (to announce on Thursday), just in time to begin.

One of the surprises during my recent trip was the train journey between Rhode Island & New York. I had planned to use this time to work at my laptop, but was mesmerised by the stories being told through the window as the beautiful scenery passed by.

The city of New York… the countryside of Connecticut… the beaches… the grass marshes… the towns… the stations… the cute houses. It was all so pretty and so different from any train journey I’ve ever taken before.

As the train rattles around so much, I just grabbed my iPhone and shot some footage on the way to Providence, Rhode Island (see above) and on the way back to New York (see below).

I love the light, colours, textures & lines and the way the ‘passing by’ movement creates such beautiful shapes.

It’s hypnotising. So relaxing.

I honestly could’ve made a 20 minute film, but that’s not ideal, so these are my favourite snippets condensed into a couple of One Minute Memories. So I can transport myself back to those journeys anytime.

These are really quick films to make… shot on the iPhone and edited simply.

It’s been a wonderful hectic summer, with many weekends away, so it was a gift to have a weekend with NO plans last week. A chance to potter, sort some things out in the house and have a roast dinner!

So I kept my camera with me and gathered some little vignettes… Keeping it simple by using only photographs to make into a stop motion film – the current round of Creating Time Capsules have been making some lovely films using photos – so I was inspired.

This is our now… no major events & imperfect images embraced…

Besides the light is so gorgeous at this time of year… it’s probably the star of the show.

Hope Autumn is bringing you some lazy Sundays… thanks for passing by x.

To combat the ‘back to school’ feelings… I’ve been re-living the summer by completing this film.

These are my favourite moments – the little things that will spark the bigger memories in future. The details of our life and this time together, which is so fleeting.

These are our stories. I’m so grateful to have captured them.

This was our summer.

Still to be completed is a film just about Somersault festival, even though lots of fav memories are within here… and I reckon a “one minute memory” skateboarding film has to be made, as I have tons of footage.

This was the summer of skating.

Now, maybe… this film has you all inspired and wishing you could make your own memory films… well…

Creating Time Capsules starts TOMORROW! and I’d love to guide you through the magic of making your own films & for you to be part of a community all sharing their stories.

Plus there’s still a few hours left to win a place on the course… head over here… I’ll be e-mailing the winners this evening UK time.

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*Side note about music in the film : I love this song… it’s been played frequently as we’ve travelled about this summer, so it seemed only right to have it as the soundtrack to this film… I don’t usually like to use unlicensed music now, and I spend hours searching for decent tracks to accompany my work… but this song IS our summer, so I’m using it… Hey, if you like it too, I recommend the whole album, especially this track.